Page:Elementary Principles in Statistical Mechanics (1902).djvu/50



have seen that the principle of conservation of extension-in-phase may be expressed as a differential relation between the coördinates and momenta and the arbitrary constants of the integral equations of motion. Now the integration of the differential equations of motion consists in the determination of these constants as functions of the coördinates and momenta with the time, and the relation afforded by the principle of conservation of extension-in-phase may assist us in this determination.

It will be convenient to have a notation which shall not distinguish between the coördinates and momenta. If we write $$r_1\ldots r_{2n}$$ for the coördinates and momenta, and $$a\ldots h$$ as before for the arbitrary constants, the principle of which we wish to avail ourselves, and which is expressed by equation (37), may be written

Let us first consider the case in which the forces are determined by the coördinates alone. Whether the forces are 'conservative' or not is immaterial. Since the differential equations of motion do not contain the time ($$t$$) in the finite form, if we eliminate $$dt$$ from these equations, we obtain $$2n-1$$ equations in $$r_1,\ldots r_{2n}$$ and their differentials, the integration of which will introduce $$2n-1$$ arbitrary constants which we shall call $$b\ldots h$$. If we can effect these integrations, the